Data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program, and storage medium storing the program

ABSTRACT

A data communication apparatus which is capable of preventing reception of undesired data by a destination without increasing the load on a network, etc. Data and a destination thereof are input. A sender ID related to a sender who sends the input data is input. The input data is sent to the input destination. A sender ID for data transmission to the input destination is permitted is stored as a permission ID. The input sender ID is collated with the stored permission ID. Whether to permit data transmission is determined according to the collation result.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/214,009 filed Aug. 29, 2005, which is based on and claims priorityfrom Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-250557, filed Aug. 30, 2004.The disclosure of the priority applications, in their entirety,including drawings, claims and the specification thereof, are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus, a datacommunication method, a data communication program, and a storage mediumstoring the program. In particular, the present invention relates to adata communication apparatus and a data communication method that cansend input data to an input destination, as well as a data communicationprogram and a storage medium storing the program.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having a scannerfunction, a printer function, a network interface, a user interface, afile system, and so forth has been known (see Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication (Kokai) No. 2002-118711, for example). The MFP is capable ofreading image data using the scanner function and sending the image datato a destination designated by using the user interface via a network byInternet facsimile, e-mail attachment, or the like. Also, when a userinputs a division code, an administrator password, and so forth usingthe user interface, the MFP authenticates the user by means of the inputdivision code, administrator password, and so forth and moves to theready state.

Also, a MFP has been proposed which authenticates a user by means of auser ID and enables the authenticated user to use an address book forhis/her exclusive use in which telephone numbers of facsimiledestinations are stored (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication(Kokai) No. H11-017862, for example).

However, in the MFP proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication(Kokai) No. H11-017862 mentioned above, when authenticated by means of auser ID, a sender can use an address book for his/her exclusive use inwhich telephone numbers of facsimile destinations are stored, but imagedata can be sent to every destination stored in the address book, andhence a recipient receives image data irrespective of whether he/she iswilling to receive the image data from the sender.

For this reason, in the above conventional MFP, in the case where theamount of image data sent from the sender is very large, a recipient'snetwork and storage device are overloaded, which may cause a failure tooccur in the recipient's network depending on circumstances. Also, sincethe recipient receives image data irrespective of whether he/she iswilling to receive the image data, the load on the recipient's storagedevice increases as the number of pieces of image data sent increaseseven if the data amounts are small. Further, there is a possibility thatthe recipient receives image data totally unrelated to him/her ormalicious image data. In the case where image data is attached to ane-mail, the recipient can refer to a sender name, data size, subject,and so forth before receiving the image data attached to the e-mail andthus he/she can prescreen data to be received to some extent, butoperations therefor are complicated. Further, since a recipient's mailserver (POP server) receives image data attached to an e-mail, the mailserver and the network are overloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a data communicationapparatus and a data communication method that are capable of preventingreception of undesired data by a destination without increasing the loadon the network, etc., as well as a data communication program and astorage medium storing the program.

To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention,there is provided a data communication apparatus comprising a data inputunit that inputs data, a destination input unit that inputs adestination of the data input by the data input unit, a sender ID inputunit that inputs a sender ID related to a sender of the data input bythe data input unit, a sending unit that sends the data input by thedata input unit to the destination input by the destination input unit,a permission ID storage unit that stores a sender ID for which thesending unit is permitted to send data to the destination input by thedestination input unit as a permission ID, a collating unit thatcollates the sender ID input by the sender ID input unit with thepermission ID stored in the permission ID storage unit, and adetermining unit that determines whether to permit the sending unit tosend data according to a result of the collation by the collating unit.

With the arrangement of the first aspect of the present invention,sender IDs of senders who are permitted to send data to respectivedestinations are stored as permission IDs, an input sender ID iscollated with the stored permission IDs, and it is determined whether ornot data transmission is to be permitted according to the collationresult. As a result, it is possible to provide control such that thesender who has been permitted to send data to the concerned destinationis permitted to send data. Therefore, reception of undesired data by adestination can be prevented without increasing the load on a network,etc.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises a datastorage unit that stores the data input by the input unit, and whereinthe sending unit is operable when the determining unit determines not topermit the sending unit to send data, to send positional information onthe data input by the input data and stored in the data storage unitwithout sending the data input by the input unit to the destinationinput by the destination input unit.

More preferably, the positional information comprises information on apath for the data input by the input unit and stored in the data storageunit, and the positional information comprises at least one of a URL, anIP address, a server name, and a folder name.

Preferably, wherein the sending unit sends thumbnail data of the datastored in the data storage unit as well as the positional information onthe data stored in the data storage unit to the destination input by thedestination input unit.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus comprises a destinationstorage unit that stores the destination input by the destination inputunit, and wherein the permission ID storage unit and the destinationstorage unit are connected to the data communication apparatus via anetwork.

Preferably, the data input unit inputs data from any of a scanner, adigital camera, a computer, and a storage device.

Preferably, the destination input unit comprises a destination storageunit that stores a plurality of destinations of data to be sent by thesending unit, and a destination display unit that selectively displaysthe destinations stored in the destination storage unit.

More preferably, the destination display unit selectively displays atleast one destination for which the sender ID input by the sender IDinput unit is stored as the permission ID in the permission ID storageunit among the plurality of destinations stored in the destinationstorage unit.

Preferably, the sender ID input unit inputs the sender ID using a cardthat stores the sender ID or by biometrics.

Preferably, the sender ID input unit comprises an ID reader that readsand writes information of a noncontact IC tag with the sender ID storedtherein.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises a dataamount determining unit that determines whether an amount of the datainput by the data input unit is not more than a predetermined value, andwherein even in a case where a sender ID stored as a permission ID inthe permission ID storage unit has not been input by the sender ID inputunit, the sending unit sends the data input by the data input unit tothe destination input by the destination input unit insofar as theamount of the data is not more than the predetermined value.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises a timingunit that times a present time, and wherein even in a case where asender ID stored as a permission ID in the permission ID storage unithas not been input by the sender ID input unit, the sending unit sendsthe data input by the data input unit to the destination input by thedestination input unit insofar as the present time is within apredetermined period of time after the result of the collation by thecollating unit is obtained.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises a datatransmission level setting unit that sets a data transmission level forthe sender ID, and wherein even in a case where a sender ID stored as apermission ID in the permission ID storage unit has not been input bythe sender ID input unit, the sending unit sends the data input by thedata input unit to the destination input by the destination input unitinsofar as the data transmission level is not less than a predeterminedvalue.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises an imagedetermining device that determines whether predetermined image data isincluded in the data input by the data input unit, and wherein even in acase where a sender ID stored as a permission ID in the permission IDstorage unit has not been input by the sender ID input unit, the sendingunit sends the data input by the data input unit to the destinationinput by the destination input unit depending on a result of thedetermination by the image determining unit.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises a keyworddetermining device that determines whether a predetermined keyword isincluded in the data input by the data input unit, and wherein even in acase where a sender ID stored as a permission ID in the permission IDstorage unit has not been input by the sender ID input unit, the sendingunit sends the data input by the data input unit to the destinationinput by the destination input unit depending on a result of thedetermination by the keyword determining unit.

Preferably, the data communication apparatus further comprises acharacteristic determining device that determines whether predeterminedcharacteristics are included in the data input by the data input unit,and wherein even in a case where a sender ID stored as a permission IDin the permission ID storage unit has not been input by the sender IDinput unit, the sending unit sends the data input by the data input unitto the destination input by the destination input unit depending on aresult of the determination by the characteristic determining unit.

To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a data communication method executed by a datacommunication apparatus with a data communicating function, comprising adata input step of inputting data, a destination input step of inputtinga destination of the data input in the data input step, a sender IDinput step of inputting a sender ID related to a sender of the datainput in the data input step, a sending step of sending the data inputin the data input step to the destination input in the destination inputstep, a permission ID storage step of storing a sender ID for which datatransmission to the destination input in the destination input step ispermitted as a permission ID, a collating step of collating the senderID input in the sender ID input step with the permission ID stored inthe permission ID storage step, and a determining step of determiningwhether to permit data transmission in the sending unit to send dataaccording to a result of the collation in the collating step.

To attain the above object, in a third aspect of the present invention,there is provided a data communication program executed by a computer,comprising a data input module for inputting data, a destination inputmodule for inputting a destination of the data input by the data inputmodule, a sender ID input module for inputting a sender ID related to asender of the data input by the data input module, a sending module forsending the data input by the data input module to the destination inputby the destination input module, a permission ID storage module forstoring a sender ID for which data transmission to the destination inputby the destination input module is permitted as a permission ID, acollating module for collating the sender ID input by the sender IDinput module with the permission ID stored by the permission ID storagemodule, and a determining module for determining whether to permit datatransmission by the sending module to send data according to a result ofthe collation by the collating module.

To attain the above object, in a fourth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a computer-readable storage medium that stores a datacommunication program according to claim 18.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the construction of anetwork system including data communication apparatuses according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of an imageinput/output apparatus appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the imageinput/output apparatus in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of acollating section appearing in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an image data sending process carried outby the image input/output apparatus in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the construction of a noncontact IC tag;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of data that is stored in thenoncontact IC tag in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of an ICreader/writer that communicates with the noncontact IC tag in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of an imageinput/output apparatus to which the IC reader/writer in FIG. 8 isconnected; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an image data sending process carriedout by the image input/output apparatus in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the construction of anetwork system including data communication apparatuses according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network system is comprised of imageinput/output apparatuses 10 and 70 as the data communication apparatusesaccording to the present embodiment, e-mail servers 20 and 80, ande-mail clients 30 and 90.

The image input/output apparatus 10, the e-mail server 20, and thee-mail client 30 are connected to each other via a LAN (Local AreaNetwork) 40. The image input/output apparatus 70, the e-mail server 80,and the e-mail client 90 are connected to each other via theInternet/Intranet 60. The LAN 40 and the Internet/Intranet 60 areconnected to each other via a router 50.

The image input/output apparatuses 10 and 70 are each comprised of ascanner section 201 (FIG. 2) as an image input device, and a printersection 202 (FIG. 2) as an image output device. The printer section 202is capable of printing image data read by the scanner section 201.

The image input/output apparatuses 10 and 70 send image data read by thescanner section 201 to the e-mail servers 20 and 80 or the e-mailclients 30 and 90 via the LAN 40 or the Internet/Intranet 60. Also, theimage input/output apparatuses 10 and 70 cause the printer section 202to print image data received from the e-mail servers 20 and 80 or thee-mail clients 30 and 90 via the LAN 40 or the Internet/Intranet 60.

It should be noted that the image input/output apparatuses 10 and 70carry out transmission and reception of data by facsimile via a publicline 204 (FIG. 2) as well as transmission and reception of data via theLAN 40 or the Internet/Intranet 60.

The e-mail servers 20 and 80 receive image data read by the imageinput/output apparatuses 10 and 70 as e-mail attachments. The e-mailclients 30 and 90 receive e-mails which the e-mail servers 20 and 80have received. Also, the e-mail clients 30 and 90 send e-mails todesired e-mail addresses.

In addition to the components shown in FIG. 1, the network systemaccording to the present embodiment may be provided with a databaseserver that is capable of storing and managing image data read by theimage input/output devices 10 and 70, a database client that is capableof using the database server, a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and soforth.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the imageinput/output apparatus 10 appearing in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image input/output apparatus 10 is comprised ofa control unit 200, the scanner section 201, the printer section 202,and an operating section 210.

The scanner section 201 reads image data from an original and convertsthe image data into a digital signal. The printer section 202 prints animage based on image data read by the scanner section 201 onto a sheetin full color. The operating section 210 is used by a user to operatethe image input/output apparatus 10.

The scanner section 201, the printer section 202, and the operatingsection 210 are connected to the control unit 200.

The control unit 200 is connected to a LAN 203 and the public line (WAN)204 as well as the scanner section 201 and the printer section 202, forcontrolling the input/output of image information and deviceinformation.

The control unit 200 is comprised of a CPU 205, a RAM 206, a boot ROM207, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 208, an operating section I/F 209, anetwork I/F 211, a modem 212, and a collating section 221, which areconnected to each other via a system bus 213.

The CPU 205 controls the overall operation of the control unit 200. TheRAM 206 is a system work memory used for the CPU 205 to operate, andalso serves as an image memory for temporary storing image data. Theboot ROM 207 stores a system boot program. The HDD 208 stores systemsoftware and image data.

The operating section I/F 209 is connected to the operating section 210,for outputting image data to be displayed in the operating section 210to the operating section 210 and sending information input by a userthrough the operating section 210 to the CPU 205. The network I/F 211such as a LAN card is connected to the LAN 203, for inputting andoutputting information. The modem 212 is connected to the public line204, for inputting and outputting information.

The collating section 221 collates a sender's ID input by the sender whosends image data using the image input/output apparatus 10 through theoperating section 210 (hereinafter referred to as “sender ID”) with apermission ID, described later. The sender ID is unique to each senderand assigned to each sender in advance. The sender ID is input by thesender.

The control unit 200 is also comprised of a RIP (Raster Image Processor)216, a device I/F section 217, an image-inputting image processingsection 218, an image-outputting image processing section 219, and animage-editing image processing section 220, which are connected to eachother via an image bus 215.

The RIP 216 expands PDL (Page Description Language) data into a bitmapimage. The device I/F section 217 is connected to the scanner section201 and the printer section 202, for carrying outsynchronous-to-asynchronous conversion of image data. Theimage-inputting image processing section 218 corrects, processes, oredits image data input by the scanner section 201. The image-outputtingimage processing section 219 performs image processing such ascorrection or resolution conversion on image data output from theprinter section 202. The image-editing image processing section 220performs image processing such as rotation or compression/expansion onimage data.

The image bus 215 is implemented by a PCI bus or an IEEE 1394 bus, fortransferring image data at high speeds.

The system bus 213 and the image bus 215 are connected to each other viaan image bus I/F 214 as a bus bridge that converts data structure.

In the case where image data read by the scanner section 201 isdistributed using the LAN 203 or the public line 204, theimage-inputting image processing section 218 performs predeterminedimage-inputting image processing on the read image data, and theimage-editing image processing section 220 performs suitable imageprocessing according to the destination. Then, the image data on whichthe above-mentioned image processing has been performed is distributedusing the LAN 203 via the network I/F 211, or using the public line 204via the modem 212.

In the case where image data read by the scanner 201 is copied by theprinter section 202, the image-inputting image processing section 218performs predetermined image-input image processing on the read imagedata, and the image-editing image processing section 220 performs imageprocessing on the image data. Then, the image-output image processingsection 219 decomposes the image data on which the above-mentioned imageprocessing has been performed by the image-edition image processingsection 220 into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk)components and sends respective density signal values of the generatedcomponents to the printer section 202 via the device I/F 217.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the imageinput/output apparatus 10 appearing in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the image input/output apparatus 10 causes thescanner section 201 to read a color original image as digital data andcauses the printer section 202 to generate a copied image.

The scanner section 201 is comprised of an original tray glass 303 a, amirror surface platen 303 b, lamps 305, mirrors 306, 307, and 308, alens 309, and a CCD (solid-state image sensor) 310.

An original 304 is placed on the original tray glass 303 a. The mirrorsurface platen 303 b covers the original tray glass 303 a. Upon input ofa scanning instruction, a copying instruction, or the like from theoperating section 210 (FIG. 2), the lamps 305 are energized toilluminate the original 304. The mirrors 306, 307, and 308 guidereflected light from the original 304 to the lens 309. The lens 309causes the reflected light from the mirror 308 to form an image on theCCD 310.

The CCD 310 of a three-line type outputs the reflected light from themirror 308 as three image signals consisting of red (R), green (G), andblue (B) image signals constituting full-color information to thecontrol unit 200.

The lamps 305 and the mirror 306 mechanically move at a speed v and themirrors 307 and 308 mechanically move at a speed ½v in a directionvertical to a line sensor scanning (main scanning) direction so that theentire surface of the original 304 is scanned (sub-scanned). In theexample shown in FIG. 3, the scanner section 201 reads the original 304at a resolution of 600 dpi (dots/inch) in main scanning and subscanning.

The image-inputting image processing section 218 and the image-editingimage processing section 220 perform image processing on the imagesignals output from the CCD 310. The image-outputting image processingsection 219 decomposes the image signals on which the above-mentionedimage processing has been performed into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow(Y), and black (Bk) components to generate respective density signalvalues of the components. The device I/F 217 sends the respectivegenerated density signal values of the components to the printer section202. Here, each time the scanner section 201 scans an original once, thedensity signal value of one of M, C, Y, and Bk components is sent to theprinter section 202; therefore, one copy is made by four scans of anoriginal.

The printer section 202 is comprised of a laser driver 312, asemiconductor laser 313, a polygon mirror 314, a f-θ lens 315, a mirror316, a photosensitive drum 317, and a rotary developing unit 318.

The laser driver 312 drives the semiconductor laser 313 for modulationaccording to the M, C, Y, and Bk image signals sent from the scannersection 201. The semiconductor laser 313 emits laser light under thecontrol of the laser driver 312. The polygon mirror 314 deflects thelaser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 313.

The f-θ lens 315 corrects for a difference in the main scanning speed ofthe deflected laser light. The mirror 316 irradiates the laser lightpassed through the f-θ lens 315 onto the photosensitive drum 317. Anelectrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 317 bythe laser light irradiated by the mirror 316. The rotary developing unit318 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitivedrum 317 with toners. Here, as in reading of the original 304 asmentioned above, the electrostatic latent image is formed at aresolution of 600 dpi in main scanning and sub scanning.

The rotary developing unit 318 is comprised of a magenta developingsection 319, a cyan developing section 320, a yellow developing section321, and a black developing section 322. These four developing sections319 to 322 alternately come into contact with the photosensitive drum317 to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum317 with toners.

The printer section 202 is further comprised of a yellow toner storagesection 323, a magenta toner storage section 324, a cyan toner storagesection 325, and a black toner storage section 326. These toner storagesections 323 to 326 are provided with toner containers that storerespective color toners, and they supply the toners to the respectivedeveloping sections 319 to 322.

The printer section 202 is further comprised of sheet cassettes 328 and329, a transfer drum 327, and a fixing unit 330.

The sheet cassettes 328 and 329 supply sheets to the printer section202. The transfer drum 327 has wound thereon a sheet supplied from thesheet cassette 328 or 329 to sequentially transfer images of four colorsM, C, Y, and Bk developed on the photosensitive drum 317 onto the sheet.The fixing unit 330 fixes toners to the sheet onto which the images havebeen transferred.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of thecollating section 221 appearing in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the collating section 221 is comprised of an addressstorage section 501, a permission ID storage section 502, and apermission ID collating section 503.

The address storage section 501 stores addresses (e-mail addresses inthis example) of image data destinations. The permission ID storagesection 502 stores IDs of senders who are permitted to send image datato the addresses stored in the address storage section 501 (hereinafterreferred to as “permission IDs”) on an address-to-address basis. Thepermission ID collating section 503 collates a sender ID input by thesender with the permission IDs stored in the permission ID storagesection 502.

It may be configured such that the sender inputs a combination of asender ID and a password, and the input sender ID and password arecollated with the permission IDs and passwords corresponding thereto. Itshould be noted that only the administrator of the image input/outputapparatus 10 or operators associated with the respective addresses canstore the permission IDs in the permission ID storage section 502 byinputting authentication information such as an ID and a password.

In the case where image data is sent as an e-mail attachment, the senderinputs a sender ID using the operating section 210. The address storagesection 501 displays a list of destination's e-mail addresses stored inadvance on the display of the operating section 210. The sender whosends the image data selects at least one e-mail address using theoperating section 210 from among the destination's e-mail addressesdisplayed on the display of the operating section 210 or directly inputsat least one e-mail address using the operating section 210. In directlyinputting at least one e-mail address, the sender inputs characters suchas alphabets and/or symbols one at a time or several at a time (forexample, in the case where the operating section 210 is provided with akey for inputting characters “co.jp” or the like at a time). That is,the sender inputs an arbitrary e-mail address by operating the operatingsection 210 without selecting an e-mail address from the list of e-mailaddresses stored in advance in the address storage section 501.

When the destination's e-mail address input (selected from the list ordirectly input) from the operating section 210 matches an e-mail addressstored in advance in the address storage section 501, the addressstorage section 501 sends the input destination's e-mail address to thepermission ID storage section 502. The permission ID storage section 502sends a group of permission IDs that have been set in association withthe e-mail address received from the address storage section 501 to thepermission ID collating section 503.

The permission ID collating section 503 compares the sender ID inputfrom the operating section 210 with the permission IDs sent from thepermission ID storage section 502. When the input sender ID matches anyof the permission IDs sent from the permission ID storage section 502,the permission ID collating section 503 permits the sender to send imagedata, and on the other hand, when the input sender ID does not match anyof the permission IDs sent from the permission ID storage section 502,the permission ID collating section 503 does not permit the sender tosend image data.

There are e.g. three methods as described below to register permissionIDs in the permission ID storage section 502. It should be noted that inregistering an e-mail address in the address storage section 501, anadministrator ID and/or a password is set with respect to the e-mailaddress. Such an administrator ID and/or a password is required to beinput in setting permission IDs associated with an e-mail address in thepermission ID storage section 502. Therefore, only the administrator oran operator who knows the password (an operator associated with thee-mail address) can perform registration.

In the first method, the scanner section 201 reads a sheet on which ane-mail address, and a permission ID for permitting e-mail transmissionto the e-mail address are written, and in response to input of anadministrator ID and/or a password set in association with the e-mailaddress, the e-mail address and the permission ID written on the sheetare character-recognized by a known OCR technique. Then, an e-mailaddress that matches the e-mail address written on the sheet is searchedfor from among e-mail addresses stored in the address storage section501. If an e-mail address that matches the e-mail address written on thesheet is stored in the address storage section 501, a permission ID setin association with the stored e-mail address is searched for from thepermission ID storage section 502, and if no set permission ID is found,the permission ID written on the sheet is additionally registered in thepermission ID storage section 502. On the other hand, if no e-mailaddress that matches the e-mail address written on the sheet is storedin the address storage section 501, the e-mail address written on thesheet is additionally registered in the address storage section 501, andthe permission ID written in association with the e-mail address isadditionally registered in the permission ID storage section 502.

In the second method, an e-mail address and an administrator ID and/or apassword are input using the operating section 210 to thereby registerthe e-mail address in the address storage section 501. At the same time,a permission ID associated with the e-mail address is registered in thepermission ID storage section 502. Also, in adding a permission ID tothe permission ID storage section 502, an e-mail address associated withthe permission ID to be added is called from the address storage section501 using the operating section 210, and when an administrator ID and/ora password is input to complete authentication, the permission ID can beadded to the permission ID storage section 502.

In the third method, an e-mail address for which a permission ID is tobe registered in or added to the permission ID storage section 502 isused to send an e-mail in which the permission ID to be registered oradded and an administrator ID and/or a password are written from thee-mail client 30, for example, to the image input/output apparatus 10.The image input/output apparatus 10 interprets the e-mail and registersthe permission ID written in the e-mail in the permission ID storagesection 502. In the third method, registration of a permission ID in thepermission ID storage section 502 may be permitted only by sending ane-mail from a specific e-mail address.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an image data sending process carried outby the image input/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 2.

In the process in FIG. 5, the sender attaches image data read by thescanner section 201 to an e-mail, designates a desired e-mail address,and sends the e-mail to the designated e-mail address by operating theoperating section 210 of the image input/output apparatus 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sender sets an original 304 to be sent on theoriginal tray 303 of the scanner section 201, and selects an image datasending function-related mode using the operating section 210 (stepS401). Here, assuming that the sender selects an e-mail attachment mode,a message that prompts the sender to select the method of inputting ane-mail address is displayed in the display section of the operatingsection 210. In accordance with the message, the sender selects at leastone of the two methods: the method in which a destination's e-mailaddress is directly input, and the method in which at least one e-mailaddress is selected from the list of destination's e-mail addressesstored in advance in the address storage section 501.

Then, the address storage section 501 determines whether or not thesender has selected the method in which a destination's e-mail addressis directly input (step S402). If it is determined in the step S402 thatthe sender has selected the method in which a destination's e-mailaddress is directly input, the sender inputs a destination's e-mailaddress to the address storage section 501 using the operating section210 (step S403) and inputs a sender ID to the permission ID collatingsection 503 (step S404).

Then, the address storage section 501 determines whether or not thedestination's e-mail address input in the step S403 matches an e-mailaddress stored in advance (step S405).

If it is determined in the step S405 that the input destination's e-mailaddress matches an e-mail address stored in advance, the address storagesection 501 sends the input destination's e-mail address to thepermission ID storage section 502. The permission ID storage section 502sends a permission ID associated with the e-mail address to thepermission ID collating section 503. The permission ID collating section503 determines whether or not the input sender ID matches the permissionID sent from the permission ID storage section 502 (step S406).

If it is determined in the step S406 that the input sender ID matchesthe permission ID sent from the permission ID storage section 502, amessage to the effect that the sender is permitted to send image data tothe destination's e-mail address input by the sender is displayed on thedisplay of the operating section 210. At this time, the sender setsvarious transmission parameters such as the resolution of image data tobe sent, which is required for transmission of the image data, andcolor/monochrome switching (step S407). On this occasion, the sender mayadd a fixed phrase prepared in advance and/or a comment input using theoperating section 210 to the image data.

When a start key provided in the operating section 210 is pressed, thescanner section 201 starts reading the image data (step S408). Next, theimage-inputting image processing section 210 of the control unit 200performs predetermined image processing for image input on the imagedata read in the step S408, and then, the image-edition image processingsection 220 performs image processing suitable for e-mail transmission(step S409).

Then, the image data on which the various image processing has beenperformed is stored in a predetermined file format such as JPEG, BMP,PDF, or SVG format in the HDD 208 (step S410). Then, in accordance withan existing universal e-mail format, an e-mail which is to be sent tothe destination's e-mail address input by the sender is created, and theimage data stored in the HDD 208 in the step S410 is attached to thecreated e-mail (step S411).

The e-mail thus created is sent to the e-mail client 30 of thedestination via the e-mail server 20 using an e-mail sending function ofthe image input/output apparatus 10 (step S412), followed by terminationof the process.

If it is determined in the step S406 that the input sender ID does notmatch the permission ID sent from the permission ID storage section 502,a message to the effect that the sender is not permitted to send imagedata to the destination's e-mail address input by the sender isdisplayed on the display of the operating section 210 (step S413),followed by termination of the process. In this case, the sender cannotcontinue an operation of sending image data to the destination's e-mailaddress input by the sender. Specifically, it may be configured suchthat an image data sending function-related screen is not displayed.Alternatively, a screen for inputting an administrator code and adivision code required for operating the image input/output apparatus 10may be displayed again. Also, it may be configured such that the startkey for starting reading image data is locked.

If it is determined in the step S402 that the sender has selected themethod in which an e-mail address is selected from the list ofdestination's e-mail addresses stored in advance in the address storagesection 501 (NO to the step S402), the process proceeds to a step S414.

In the step S414, the address storage section 501 displays the list ofdestination's e-mail addresses stored in advance on the display of theoperating section 210, and the sender selects a desired destination'se-mail address from the list of the displayed destination's e-mailaddresses using the operating section 210. Then, a sender ID is input tothe permission ID collating section 503 (step S415), and the step S406and the subsequent steps are executed, followed by termination of theprocess.

If it is determined in the step S405 that the input destination's e-mailaddress does not match any e-mail address stored in advance, the senderis permitted to send image data, and the step S407 and the subsequentsteps are executed, followed by termination of the process.

It may be configured such that when the input destination's e-mailaddress does not match any e-mail address stored in advance, the senderis not permitted to send image data, or it may be configured such that asetting is made in advance as to whether or not the sender is to bepermitted to send image data.

According to the process in FIG. 5, if the sender ID input in the stepS403 or S415 does not match the permission ID sent from the permissionID storage section 502 (NO to the step S406), the message to the effectthat the sender is not permitted to send image data to the destination'se-mail address input by the sender is displayed on the display of theoperating section 210 (step S413). Therefore, reception of undesireddata by a destination can be prevented without increasing the load on anetwork, etc.

Although in the present embodiment, the sender inputs a destination'se-mail address (steps S403 and S414) first and then inputs a sender ID(steps S404 and S415), it may be configured such that the sender inputsa sender ID first and then an e-mail address. In this case, a sender IDis input first, and then as a method to input an e-mail address, one isselected from the two methods: the method in which a destination'se-mail address is directly input, or the method in which at least onee-mail address is selected from the list of destinations' e-mailaddresses.

It may be configured such that in the case where the method in which atleast one e-mail address is selected form the list of destinations'e-mail addresses is selected, all the e-mail addresses stored in theaddress storage section 501 are not displayed on the display section210, but only e-mail addresses for which the sender ID input first isset as a permission ID are displayed on the display of the operatingsection 210, and a desired destination's e-mail address is selected fromthe displayed e-mail addresses. Therefore, only destinations to whichimage data can be sent are displayed, which improves convenience for thesender to designate a destination.

Although in the present embodiment, if as a result of collation of asender ID input by the sender, it is determined that the sender is notpermitted to send image data to a destination's e-mail address input bythe sender (NO to the step S406, and S413), the sender cannot send imagedata to the destination's e-mail address input by the sender, thepresent invention is not limited to this, but convenience for users canbe further improved by other configurations described below.

Also, it may be configured such that if as a result of collation of thesender ID input by the sender, it is determined that the sender is notpermitted to send image data (NO to the step S406), image data thatcould not be sent is stored in the HDD 208 or the like, and positionalinformation indicative of the storage location of the image data is sentto the destination's e-mail address. Specifically, the image data isstored in the HDD 208 of the image input/output apparatus 10, or in astorage device, not shown, on the LAN 40 or the Internet/Intranet 60,and positional information indicative of the storage location of theimage data is sent to the destination's e-mail address. The positionalinformation is indicative of a location on a network such as a URL, anIP address, a server name, a folder name, or a path stored in thestorage device.

Upon receiving the positional information, a recipient accesses thestorage location of the image data according to the positionalinformation to obtain the image data. As a result, even in the casewhere the sender ID of the sender is not set as a permission ID withrespect to a destination's e-mail address, the sender can notify therecipient of the presence of image data, and the image data itself isnot sent to the recipient. Therefore, the recipient can obtain the imagedata as the need arises without overloading the network and the clientPC.

Also, it may be configured such that a thumbnail of image data (i.e.image data is reduced in size to such an extent that the outline of theimage data can be recognized) is sent to a destination's e-mail address.Therefore, the recipient can efficiently determine whether or not imagedata is necessary by referring to the thumbnail.

Further, it may be configured such that even in the case where as aresult of collation of a sender ID, it is determined that the sender isnot permitted to send image data (NO to the step S406), the image datacan be sent insofar as the amount of the image data to be sent is notgreater than a predetermined value. In this case, the CPU 205 determineswhether or not the amount of the image data is not greater than thepredetermined value. For example, it may be configured such that if theamount of the image data is 500K or less, senders other than the senderwhose sender ID matches the permission ID can send the image data, andif the amount of the image data is greater than 500K, only the senderwhose sender ID matches the permission ID can send the image data. Also,the amount of image data that can be sent may be individually set withrespect to respective destination's e-mail addresses. This furtherimproves convenience for users.

Also, it may be configured such that even in the case where as a resultof collation of a sender ID, it is determined that the sender is notpermitted to send image data (NO to the step S406), image data can besent insofar as the present time is within a predetermined period oftime after the determination. In this case, the CPU 205 is provided witha timing section, not shown, that times the present time, fordetermining whether the present time is within the predetermined periodof time. For example, even senders other than the sender whose sender IDmatches the permission ID can send the image data from 8:30 to 17:00,and other than that, only the sender whose sender ID matches thepermission ID can send the image data. This further improves conveniencefor users.

Data sending levels may be set in advance to respective sender IDs, sothat even in the case where as a result of collation of a sender ID, itis determined that the sender is not permitted to send image data (NO tothe step S406), the sender can send the image data to the destination'se-mail address insofar as the input sender ID is a sender ID to which adata sending level not less than a predetermined value is set. In thiscase, the CPU 205 and the collating section 221 set a data sending levelin association with a sender ID in response to an input from theoperating section 210, and the collating section 221 determines whetheror not the set data sending level is not less than the predeterminedvalue. This further improves convenience for users.

Even in the case where as a result of collation of a sender ID, it maybe determined that the sender is not permitted to send image data (NO tothe step S406), the sender can send the image data according to whetheror not a predetermined image is included in the image data. For example,it is configured such that if the image data includes a mark, a sign, adigital watermark, a pattern, or the like, the sender can send the imagedata. Specifically, the image data including the predetermined imagementioned above is used for a special purpose in many cases, and itseems that not everyone has such image data, and hence even sendersother than senders who have been permitted to send image data in advanceare permitted to send such image data. In this case, the template of thepredetermined image is registered in advance in the HDD 208 or the like,and the CPU 205 determines whether or not image data to be sent includesthe predetermined image. This improves convenience for users.

It may be configured such that the CPU 205 parses text obtained byperforming known OCR processing on image data, and even in the casewhere as a result of collation of a sender ID, it is determined that thesender is not permitted to send the image data (NO to the step S406),the sender can send the image data insofar as the text includes aspecific keyword. Conversely, it may be configured such that if the textincludes a specific keyword, the sender is inhibited from sending theimage data. Specifically, in the case where the text includes a keywordwhich is used for a specific purpose, it is considered that the imagedata is unlikely to be unnecessary, and hence even senders other thansenders who have been permitted in advance to send image data arepermitted to send the image data. Conversely, in the case where text inimage data includes a keyword that is not desired by the recipient, therecipient does not have to receive the image data and hence thetransmission of the image data is inhibited. In this case, keywordspermitted to be sent or keywords inhibited from being sent areregistered in the HDD 208 or the like, and the CPU 205 determineswhether or not text obtained by performing the OCR processing on imagedata to be sent includes the specific keyword. This further improvesconvenience for users.

It may be configured such that image data to be sent is analyzed usingan image analyzing technique of analyzing image data to determinewhether the image data includes predetermined characteristics, and evenin the case where as a result of collation of a sender ID, it isdetermined that the sender is not permitted to send the image data (NOto the step S406), the sender can send the image data depending on theimage analysis result. For example, characteristics such as formats of aledger sheet or the like and the layout of an image are registered inadvance in the HDD 208 or the like, and if image data to be sent isbased upon the registered format or layout, even senders other thansenders who have been permitted in advance to send image data arepermitted to send the image data. In this case, the CPU 205 determineswhether or not the image data to be sent includes the predeterminedcharacteristics. The image analyzing technique is executed by theimage-edition image processing section 220 and the CPU 205. This furtherimproves convenience for users.

It may be configured such that the sender is permitted to send the imagedata without collating his/her sender ID, provided that one or more ofthe following conditions are fulfilled.

1) The amount of the image data to be sent is not greater than apredetermined value;

2) The amount of the image data to be sent is not greater than apredetermined value;

3) The present time that has elapsed is within a predetermined period oftime after the determination;

4) The input sender ID is a sender ID to which a data sending level notless than a predetermined value is set;

5) Image data to be sent includes a predetermined image;

6) Text in image data to be sent includes a specific keyword; and

7) The result of image data analysis satisfies predetermined conditions.

In this case, it may be configured such that if the image data cannot besent, the sender ID is collated, and the sender is permitted to send theimage data.

Although in the present embodiment, image data read by the scannersection 201 is sent to a destination's e-mail address, the presentinvention is not limited to this, but image data to be sent may be printdata sent from a client PC or the like, image data shot and input by adigital camera, image data stored in the HDD 208, or the like insofar asit can be handled by the image input/output apparatus 10.

Although in the present embodiment, an e-mail with image data attachedthereto is sent to an e-mail client, the present invention is notlimited to this, but an e-mail with image data attached thereto may besent to any device or application such as a PC, a PDA, a cellular phone,a car navigation system, or the like insofar as it is capable of sendingand receiving e-mails.

Although in the present embodiment, image data is sent as an e-mailattachment, the present invention is not limited to this, but image datamay be sent via a communication means such as a facsimile, a network, apublic line, infrared communication, radio, or Bluetooth.

The type of data to be sent in not limited to image data, and the formatof data to be sent is not limited to the above-mentioned ones.

Although the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment is implemented by the image input/output apparatus 10 as amulti-function peripheral, the present invention is not limited to this,but the data communication apparatus according to the present inventionmay be implemented by a scanner alone, or a device capable of inputtingor storing image data shot by a digital camera or the like.

Although in the present embodiment, the collating section 221 of thecontrol unit 200 in the image input/output apparatus 10 includes theaddress storage section 501, the permission ID storage section 502, andthe permission ID collating section 503, an address management servermay be constructed on the LAN 40 or the Internet/Intranet 60, formanaging e-mail addresses and permission IDs, or that a plurality ofimage input/output apparatuses are connected to each other via the LAN40 or the Internet/Intranet 60. With this arrangement, a plurality ofimage input/output apparatuses can share e-mail addresses, permissionIDs, and so forth.

Although in the present embodiment, a sender ID or a password is inputvia the operating section 210, the present invention is not limited tothis, but the sender may be identified by inserting a card in which asender ID is stored or by biometrics such as fingerprint authentication.This improves convenience for users to input senders ID.

Alternatively, it may be configured such that a sender ID is recorded ina RFID using a noncontact IC tag as shown in FIG. 6, and the sender IDis read out using an IC reader/writer 800, described later, so that thesender ID can be input to the permission ID collating section 503.

Referring to FIG. 6, a noncontact IC tag 600 is constructed such that anantenna pattern 602 is formed on one side surface of a substrate made ofplastic or the like, and the antenna pattern 602 and a capacitorincorporated in an IC chip 603 that stores data shown in FIG. 7,described later, form a resonance circuit. The resonance circuit isenergized by a radio wave of a given frequency received from the ICreader/writer 800 as a radio wave source, shown in FIG. 8, describedlater, to send information stored in the IC chip 603 to the ICreader/writer 800.

The antenna pattern 602 is in the form of a coil, and a conductingmember 604 forms a jumping circuit on the other or reverse side surfaceof the substrate 601. The antenna pattern 602 is connected to a bump ora pad on the reverse side surface of the IC chip 603 via a coilconnecting element 605. The noncontact IC tag 600 constructed as abovehas the coil-shaped antenna pattern 602 formed by photo-etching or postresist print etching of a metallic foil such as an aluminum foillaminated on the substrate 601 and attaching the IC chip 603 to thesubstrate 601. No particular limitations are imposed upon the shape anddimension of the noncontact IC tag 600 insofar as it is 20 mm square orless in size.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the noncontactIC tag 600 in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the noncontact IC tag 600 mainly stores four piecesof information: sender-related information 701, one or more e-mailaddresses 702 for which a sender ID is set as a permission ID, a usagehistory 703, and others (options) 704. These four pieces of informationare only illustrative; other various information may be stored in thenoncontact IC tag 600 insofar as the storage capacity of the noncontactIC tag 600 permits.

The sender-related information 701 includes, for example, a sender name705, a sender ID 706, a sender's e-mail address 707, a sender's divisionname 707, a date and hour 709 on which a sender ID is given, and others710.

The e-mail addresses 702 for which the sender ID is set a permission IDare associated with the sender ID included in the sender-relatedinformation 701, and to which e-mail transmission is permitted.

The usage history 703 is information that is indicative of a history inwhich collation of IDs and transmission have been carried out using thenoncontact IC tag 600.

The others (options) 704 are various information that are not includedin the above-mentioned three categories.

FIG. 7 is only illustrative, and the noncontact IC tag 600 may includeother information, and the above described information should notnecessarily be included in the noncontact IC tag 600.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the ICreader/writer 800 that communicates with the noncontact IC tag 600 inFIG. 6.

The IC reader/writer 800 is incorporated in the image input/outputapparatus 10, or is externally connected to the image input/outputapparatus 10. It is assumed here that the IC reader/writer 800 isexternally connected to the image input/output apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the IC reader/writer 800 is comprised of an antennasection 801 that carries out noncontact communication with thenoncontact IC tag 600, a modulation/demodulation circuit section 802that converts data sent and received via the antenna section 801, acontrol section 803, and an application section 804.

In reading data from the noncontact IC tag 600, themodulation/demodulation circuit section 802 converts data received viathe antennal section 801 into data that can be used by the imageinput/output apparatus 10. On the other hand, in writing data into thenoncontact IC tag 600, the modulation/demodulation circuit section 802converts data received from the image input/output apparatus 10 intodata that can be sent via the antenna section 801.

The control section 803 is implemented by a microcomputer or a dedicatedcontrol circuit, and it controls the application section 804, describedlater.

The application section 804 is comprised of a micro controller unit(MCU) 807 that controls component elements of the application section804, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 805, a SRAM 806 that is readable andwritable, a display section 808 that displays various information, anoperating section 809 for the user to operate the IC reader/writer 800,and an external interface 810 that is connected to the imageinput/output apparatus 10. The ROM 805, the SRAM 806, the displaysection 808, the operating section 809, and the external interface 810are connected to the MCU 807.

With the above arrangement, the application section 804 can analyze datareceived from the noncontact IC tag 600 and displays information on thedisplay section 808. Also, responsive to user's operation of theoperating section 809, the application section 804 carries out editingor the like of received data. In sending data to the noncontact IC tag600, the application section 804 displays data to be sent on the displaysection 808, and responsive to user's operation of the operating section809, the application section 804 performs predetermined processing onthe data to be sent and then sends the data.

As a result, the IC reader/writer 800 alone is able to display/edit datasent to/received from the noncontact IC tag 600. Also, the ICreader/writer 800 can display/edit data sent to/received from the imageinput/output apparatus 10 by way of the external interface 810.

In the case where the IC reader/writer 800 is incorporated in the imageinput/output apparatus 10, equivalent modules in the image input/outputapparatus 10 may be used in place of the ROM 805, the RAM 806, the MCU807, the display section 808, and the operating section 809.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the imageinput/output apparatus 10 to which the IC reader/writer 800 isconnected.

The construction shown in FIG. 9 is basically the same as theconstruction shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, elements and partscorresponding to those of the image input/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 2are denoted by the same reference numerals with description thereofomitted, and a description will be given below only of a differencebetween the image input/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 9 and the imageinput/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 2. The image input/output apparatus 10in FIG. 9 differs from the image input/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 2only in that an external I/F 901 intended for connection to the ICreader/writer 800 is connected to the system bus 213.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an image data sending process carriedout by the image input/output apparatus 10 in FIG. 9.

The process in FIG. 10 is basically the same as the process in FIG. 5.Therefore, steps corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by thesame reference numerals with description thereof omitted, and adescription will be given below only of differences between the processin FIG. 10 and the process in FIG. 5.

The process in FIG. 10 differs from the process in FIG. 5 only in thatsteps S101 to S106 are provided in place of the steps S401 to S404.

Referring to FIG. 10, when a sender who carries the noncontact IC tag600 comes close to the image input/output apparatus 10, the ICreader/writer 800 connected to the image input/output apparatus 10communicates with the noncontact IC tag 600 (step S101). Then, the imageinput/output apparatus 10 automatically reads a sender ID stored in thenoncontact IC tag 600 (step S102).

Then, the sender sets an original 304 to be sent on the original tray303 of the scanner section 201 and selects an image data sendingfunction-related mode using the operating section 210 (step S103). Here,taking an example where the sender selects an e-mail attachment mode, amessage that prompts the sender to select the method of inputting ane-mail address is displayed on the display of the operating section 210.In accordance with the message, the sender selects one of the twomethods: the method in which a destination's e-mail address is directlyinput, and the method in which at least one e-mail address is selectedfrom the list of destination's e-mail addresses stored in advance in theaddress storage section 501.

Then, the address storage section 501 determines whether or not thesender has selected the method in which a destination's e-mail addressis directly input (step S104). If it is determined that the sender hasselected the method in which a destination's e-mail address is directlyinput, a destination's e-mail address is input to the address storagesection 501 by the sender using the operating section 210 (step S105),and the steps S405 and the subsequent steps are executed, followed bytermination of the process.

If it is determined in the step S104 that the sender has selected themethod in which at least one e-mail address is selected from the list ofdestination's e-mail addresses stored in advance in the address storagesection 501, the address storage section 501 displays the list ofdestination's e-mail addresses stored in advance in the address storagesection 501 on the display of the operating section 210. On thisoccasion, since the image input/output apparatus 10 has already acquiredthe sender ID from the noncontact IC tag 600, only e-mail addresses forwhich the sender ID may be set as a permission ID are displayed.

Then, the sender selects at least one desired e-mail address from thedisplayed list of destination's e-mail addresses using the operatingsection 210 (step S106), and the steps S406 and the subsequent steps areexecuted, followed by termination of the process.

According to the process in FIG. 10, the IC reader/writer 800 connectedto the image input/output apparatus 10 communicates with the noncontactIC tag 600 (step S101), and the image input/output apparatus 10automatically reads a sender ID stored in the noncontact IC tag 600(step S102). Therefore, the usage of the noncontact IC tag 600 improvesconvenience in authenticating the sender by means of a sender ID.

Alternatively, predetermined information may be stored in advance in avery small and thin noncontact IC tag, and this noncontact IC tag may beattached to or “plowed” or embedded in an original to be read by thescanner section 201. The predetermined information stored in thenoncontact IC tag is set in advance in the collating section 221 or thelike. It may be configured such that when the original is being read bythe scanner section 201, the IC reader/writer 800 reads out theinformation stored in the noncontact IC tag attached to or “plowed” orembedded in the original, and when the readout information matches thepredetermined information set in advance in the collating section 221 orthe like, transmission of image data obtained from the original read bythe scanner section 201 is permitted. The predetermined informationstored in the noncontact IC tag may be set in the collating section 221or the like with respect to each destination's e-mail address.

It is to be understood that the object of the present invention may alsobe accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storagemedium in which a program code of software, which realizes the functionsof the above described embodiment is stored, and causing a computer (orCPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute theprogram code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage mediumrealizes the functions of the above described embodiment, and hence theprogram code and a storage medium on which the program code is storedconstitute the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include afloppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magnetic-opticaldisk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, aDVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM.Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

Further, it is to be understood that the functions of the abovedescribed embodiment may be accomplished not only by executing a programcode read out by a computer, but also by causing an OS (operatingsystem) or the like which operates on the computer to perform a part orall of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code.

Further, it is to be understood that the functions of the abovedescribed embodiment may be accomplished by writing a program code readout from the storage medium into a memory provided in an expansion boardinserted into a computer or a memory provided in an expansion unitconnected to the computer and then causing a CPU or the like provided inthe expansion board or the expansion unit to perform a part or all ofthe actual operations based on instructions of the program code.

1. A data communication apparatus comprising: a scanning unit configuredto scan an original to obtain image data corresponding to the original;a transmitting unit configured to transmit the image data; a storageunit configured to store addresses, each of the addresses correspondingto an ID; an accepting unit configured to accept an ID from a user; adisplay unit configured to display at least one address of the addressesstored in the storage unit, the at least one address corresponding tothe ID accepted by the accepting unit; a control unit configured tocontrol, when the user selects an address from among the at least oneaddress displayed on the display unit, the transmitting unit to transmitthe image data obtained by the scanning unit to the selected address;and a determination unit configured to determine whether or notcharacters or symbols input by the user via an operation unit is storedin the storage unit as an address corresponding to the ID accepted bythe accepting unit, wherein the control unit permits, when thedetermination unit determines the characters or symbols input by theuser are stored in the storage unit as the address corresponding to theID accepted by the accepting unit, the transmitting unit to transmit theimage data to a destination address expressed in the characters orsymbols.
 2. A data communication apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe control unit inhibits, when the determine unit determines thecharacters or symbols input by the user is not stored in the storageunit as the address corresponding to the ID accepted by the acceptingunit, the transmitting unit to transmit the image data to a destinationaddress expressed in the characters or symbols.
 3. A data communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit does notdisplay the address which does not correspond to the ID accepted by theaccepting unit.
 4. A data communication apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the address is an E-mail address.
 5. A data communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characters are alphabets. 6.A data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theaccepting unit is an IC card reader.
 7. A data communication methodcomprising the steps of: scanning an original to obtain image datacorresponding to the original; transmitting the image data; storingaddresses, each of the addresses corresponding to an ID; accepting an IDfrom a user; displaying at least one address of the stored addresses,the at least one address corresponding to the accepted ID; andtransmitting, when the user selects an address form among the displayedat least one address, the obtained image data to the selected address,determining whether or not characters or symbols input by the user isstored as an address corresponding to the accepted ID, wherein thecontrolling comprises permitting, when it is determined that thecharacters or symbols input by the user are stored as the addresscorresponding to the accepted ID, the image data to be transmitted to adestination address expressed in the characters or symbols.
 8. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program forcausing a computer to execute a data communication method comprising thesteps of: scanning an original to obtain image data corresponding to theoriginal; transmitting the image data; storing addresses, each of theaddresses corresponding to an ID; accepting an ID from a user;displaying at least one address of the stored addresses, the at leastone address corresponding to the accepted ID; and transmitting, when theuser selects an address form among the displayed at least one address,the obtained image data to the selected address, determining whether ornot characters or symbols input by the user is stored as an addresscorresponding to the accepted ID, wherein the controlling comprisespermitting, when it is determined that the characters or symbols inputby the user are stored as the address corresponding to the accepted ID,the image data to be transmitted to a destination address expressed inthe characters or symbols.